What A Dumbbell!!!

[ressalg]

The Dumbbell Nebula that is. Reffered to as a planetary nebula because of the similar appearence to the giant planets when viewed through small telescopes. Also known as M27 and located in the constellation Vulpecula. It's approximately 1360 light years away.

This is what some stars look like when they die. As a star gets to the red giant phase it's stellar winds begin to fluctuate and become so strong that it actually starts throwing off layers of gas. What's left behind is a bright and hot star who's ultra violet radiation then ionises the layers of gas that have been thrown off previously. (It's sort of like a neon light... only different. *heh*) The red colour comes from hydrogen gas and the blue/green colour is from oxygen and sodium.

Full image processed using techniques from Catching the Light: Astrophotography by Jerry Lodriguss.



Cropped in version to show more of the detail.



It actually looks a little more like an apple core to me but I guess Apple Core Nebula just doesn't have the same "pop" as Dumbbell Nebula. LOL

[jakethepig]

This is amazing Astro photography ressalg. You have captured some awesome detail and even the cropped version doesnt lose clarity. Well done you should be so proud of these..

Dave.

[SandeeWig]

That is totally cool ressalg!! Excellent capture and it cropped nicely. Great work! Thanks for sharing. I'd never heard of such a thing, and probably would never have seen it.

[Fred flyfisher]

Ressalg, I can never get tired of these. Great work buddy, I love it!

[bascott]

Great captures and your right, the last one does remind me of a apple core

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by jakethepig

This is amazing Astro photography ressalg. You have captured some awesome detail and even the cropped version doesnt lose clarity. Well done you should be so proud of these..

Dave.

Thanks, Dave. I am pretty proud... but I'm vain at the best of times. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by SandeeWig

That is totally cool ressalg!! Excellent capture and it cropped nicely. Great work! Thanks for sharing. I'd never heard of such a thing, and probably would never have seen it.

It's amazing what's actually out there and that we can see without the aid of multi-million dollar equipment. Thanks for looking.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by Fred flyfisher

Ressalg, I can never get tired of these. Great work buddy, I love it!

Thanks, Fred. I'll actually be taking an astrophotography workshop in November that's put on by one of the "biggies" in the field (at least here in Canada). I can't wait to see what he can teach me.

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by bascott

Great captures and your right, the last one does remind me of a apple core

Thanks, bascott. Glad you enjoyed this post.

[ressalg]

I think I fell down and bumped my head.. or at least this thread.